(Frankfort, KY) Candidates seeking public office as an independent or political group candidate for a partisan office must file their Statement-of-Candidacy form with the Secretary of State by Monday, April 2, 2007 in order to be placed on the ballot for the November 6th general election. The Statement-of-Candidacy form for independent candidates is required by KRS 118.365(5) which was enacted by the 2003 General Assembly.

“This is only the third election, and the first for statewide constitutional offices, in which independent candidates have been required to file a Statement-of-Candidacy form,” said Secretary of State Trey Grayson. “Candidates are encouraged to contact our office to receive the necessary paperwork in order to be eligible for candidacy or if they have any questions.”

There is no filing fee for the filing of the Statement of Candidacy, but the failure of candidates required to file the Statement of Candidacy shall result in the rejection of any nominating petition submitted to the appropriate filing official by the August 14, 2007 deadline for attaining ballot access in the November 6, 2007 general election.

The following offices are scheduled for a regular election in 2007:

Governor/Lt. Governor SlateSecretary of State

Attorney General

Auditor of Public Accounts

State Treasurer

Commissioner of Agriculture

In order to help candidates seeking political office, the Office of the Secretary of State previously developed a ballot access procedural manual titled: Declaring Your Candidacy. This publication provides Kentuckians with a quick guide to filing for political office.

Although the manual focuses primarily on candidate filing procedures, sample forms for attaining ballot access, and qualifications for each elective office, it also includes other important and pertinent election information that may affect candidates. The publication contains an election schedule, sample filing forms of various types, contact information for state election agencies, and answers to candidates’ most frequently asked questions.

The filing deadline for candidates’ names to appear on the ballot for nonpartisan judicial positions has already passed.

For more information, please visit the Office of the Secretary of State’s website at: www.sos.ky.gov.